Lionel m



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,550

L. M. WOOLSON INTERNAL COMBUsfrIoN ENGINE allume Feb. 12, 1929.

L. M. WOOLSON INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINE Filed May24, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 2- www., I

MW n Gamay Feb. l2, 1929. 1,701,550 L. M. wooLsoN k- INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 12,1929.

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LONEL IVI. WOOLSON, OFDETROIT, MCHIGAN, ASSGNOR lO PACKARD MOTOR CARCOMPANY, F DETRIT, MCHGAN, A COBPORATON 0F MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTIN ENGTE.

Application filed May 24, 1923. Serial No. 841,053.

Thisl invention relates to internal combustion engines7 moreparticularly to high speed, heavy duty engines such as are used topropel aircraft. It has for an object to providean engine of thecharacter designated Which shall develop a large amount of pojver withrespect to its Weight and with a maximum degree of reliability. t

Another object of this invention is to pro- 10 vide an engine of thistype which shall be highly accessible for adjustments and repairs,

especially under emergency conditions.

A further object is to provide an engine in which i'nanutacture isfacilitated and eX- pense reduced by the use of unit assemblies.

i Other objects of the invention Will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection With the drawing9 Which forms a part ofthis specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation,of an engine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation ot the engine shown in Fig. l; l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sect-ion through the head and valve operatingmechanism of the engine, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;j

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

5 is an enlarged detail section showing the valve operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6;-6 of 1 Fig. 7 isa horizontal sectionon the line Y 7-7 of Fig. 37 and Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 3 ofFig. 't'. ln the construction of power plants for airfrat't itisessential to insure a high degree ot i'eiability, the nature ot theservice these Aengines are intended lto perform making this amajornecessity. Repairs and adjustn'ients to such enginesiiiust-soineti1nes be made under disadvantageous conditions,'placingaccessibility at a premium. Next to reliability in operation andaccessibility in construetion, it is desirable that an airplane enginedevelop relatively high power in proportion to its Weight. l

AVfith ythese considerations in mind, the presentinventionprovides astructure which is sturdyand rugged7 Which is arranged to be easily andquickly adjusted and repaired, and in which the Weight per horsepowerdeveloped has been reduced to a minimum.

' Referring to the drawings, at 1() is shown an internalcombustionengine, adapted for use with aircr it, having a cylinderportion 11 and a head portion 12 secured thereto as by a plurality ofbolts 13. The cylinder portion 11, which is preferably a casting ofaluminum alloy or other light metal, is provided with an integral crankcase portion 14, having brackets 15 by which the engine is supported onthe engine bearer members in the Well knovvn manner. The bottom orn thecrank case 14V is closed by a shallowv oil pan or sump 16. The cylinderportion 11 comprises a series of cylinders 17 arranged in line, andWhich are preferably steel sleeves set into counterbores 181in thecylinder casting, and spaced therefrom ,to define passages 19 forcirculation of cooling Water about the cylinders. The cyl inders 17 areprovided with suitable pistons 21, operatively connected by rods 22 witha crank shaft- 23, which is journaled in bearings 24 in the crank case14, in the usual manner. The forward end of the crank shaft 23 ispreferably journaled in a suitable thrust bearing 26, and projectedtherethrough to provide a tapered spindle 2'?, adapted for attachment toa suitable airplane propeller 8. The other end of the crank shaft 23 isadapted'to overhang the end main bearing 24, and is pro- Y vided with aflexible coupling 29 of any suitable construction. The engine isequipped With the usual carburetor 31 adapted to supply fuel mixture tothe engine through an intake manifold 32. j

The head portion 12 of the engine is preferably a casting of lightWeight metal, such as alun'iiuum alloy, and is adapted lo seat ou' asuitable gasket 33 to seal the connection with the upj er end of theengine cylinders, in the vuellknoun manner. The head casting l2, as bestshown in Fig. 3, is cored to provide suitable ini'ake and exhaustpassages 34 and 3f. adaptedV for respective communication with theintake manifold 32, and `with the usual eX- shaft 113 provided at itsupper end with a` bevel gear 11a adapted to mesh with the ej 111 on theshaft 10?', and at its lovver lend u u.

a coupling 1.16 by which it is connected to a shaft 11T adapted to drivea water circulating pump 118 and lulnicating pump (not shown). T heWater pump 118 is adapted to circulate cooline- Water through thecoolengine Vmay be cranked from either side or directly from the rear.This mechanism includes a sere-.iv shaft 121 suitably ournaled inthereasing 1051 and provided with a pinion 122 having internal *screwthreads adapted to engage (the screnv shaft-121 so as travel thereon asa nut When the shaft 121 is rotated. The shaft 121 is provided at a`point intermediate its ends with a bevel 12S adapt-ed to mesh with bevelpinions 12d mounted on shaft-s 126 at either side of the engine, whichare provided with square ends 127 adapted to co-operate Wit-h theordinary hand starting crank. rilhe extension of the shaft 121 is alsoprovided with squared end 128. A spring bralre device 129 is adapted toprevent rotation of the pinion 122 With the shaft -121 as the latter isturned by means of the hand crank, thus sliding the pinion 122 along theshaft until it meshes with the gear 108. Continued rotation of the shaft121 will result in rotation of the shaft 107, thus cranking the engine.ldhen the engine starts the sudden change in speed of the shaft 121.will cause the pinion122, by reason of its inertia, to spin baci-:Wardsout of engagement with the gear 108, thus disengaging the crankingapparatus.

The drive assembly lcasing` 78 may be provided with a suitableproieotion131, to which may be attached any suitable form of gun synchronizingdevice 132, adapted to` be driven from ay bevel gear 133 on the shaft9G. The gun synchronizing device 132 is adapted to time the` operationof a machine gun mounted on the aircraft to which this engi -e isapplicable so that the discharge of the gun, when firing through thepropeller, will not strike the propeller blades. Any suitable device ofthis character may be provided and may be removed from the engine whenthe airplane is not being used for military ,purposes, as is Wellunderstood. j

As will be seen, this invention provides an engine the total Weight ofwhich is materially reduced in proportion to the power developed,Without in any Way lessening its sturdiness and reliability. Itfurthermore provides an assembly which is extremely accessible, removalof the cover plate 42 providing access to the cam shaft, Whichfmay beremoved a unit therewith. Removal of the casi g 78 also exposes theaccessory drive shaft 96 and its various related gears.

Also this invention provides a structure which readily lends itself tounit assembly, cam shaft, example, being assembled in its bea s fl-. onthe plate 112 as a unit before placing inthe engine.

lt is to be noted that the cam shaft drive, pumps, magnetos, and otheraccessories'are all mounted on the casing 178, which being bolted to thecylinder block, is removable therefrom as a unit. This structure isespecially valuable when repairs become necessary under emergencyconditions in use.

lt Will be understood that various forms of the invention other thanthose described above. may be used Without departing from the spirit orscope the invention.

v l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. 1n combination in an internal combustion engine, a cylinder block, arecessed head casting therefor of light metal', and a combustion head ofheat resisting metal, said combustion head being pressed into the recessin said casting and into direct contact therewith.

2. 1n combination in an internal combustion engine, an aluminum castingadapted to form a head therefor, integral side Walls projecting abovesaid casting to form a housing, integral combustion heads of heatresisting metal secured in said casting, valve guides secured in saidcasting and adapted to project into said housing, puppet valves mountedto operate in said guides having seats formed in said combustion heads,and means Within the housing adapted to operate said valves.

3. The combination with an internal coinbustion engine of a head castinghaving upwardly extending parallel Walls forming a housing and providedwith intake and exhaust passages for the engine, ported combustionhea'ls of heat resisting metal pressed into the casting, said portscommunicating' With the intake and exhaust passages, valves seating onthe combustion heads to control said ports, valve guides rigidlysupported in the casting, a cover plate for the housing, and meansWithin the housing and secured to the cover plate adapted to actuate thevalve.

41. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a head castinghaving longitudinal Walls upvvardly'ertended to form a housing, a coverplate removably secured to the housing, bearings carried bv the coverplate' a camshaft journaled in the bearings Within the housing, guidemembers remov-' ably secured to the cover plate, and plunger membersreciprocable in the guide members and operable by the camshaft.

f 5. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a valveoperating assembly therefor, comprising a camshaft, a sup-- porting`plate therefor removably secured to the engine, guide members removablysecured to 4the plate, and plunger members Within the guide membersoperable by the can'lshg'i'lt to aetnate the engine valves.

G. The combination with an internal combustion engine homing valvesdisposed in the head thereof, of avalve operating assembly comprisin a sinvporting plate removably secured to the engine head, a camshaftmounted on the plate, guide members removably se Cured to the plate,hollow plungers having slotted sides mounted in the guide members topermit passage of the camshaft and operable therefrom, and adjustablemeans on the plungers to aotnate the valves.

7, The rCombination With an internal eombustion engine, of a headcasting having valves land adapted to 'form a housing', a Cover plateremovably secured to the bonsa Camshaft mounted on the plate Within thehousing, guide members arranged in pairs and removably secured to theplate Within the housing, and hollenlv pl'ungers operable from thecamshaft and adapted to aetuate the valves, said plungers having slottedsides for passage of the camshaft therethrough.

8. In an internal combustion engine, in combination, an almninum headcasting, ,onpshaped combustion head?3 pressed into the casting' andhaving valve ports therein, valve guides pressed into the casting abovesaid ports, valves in the guides, a cover plate ren'nwably secured tothe casting, and valve actuating means secured to the cover plate.

9. In an internal combustion engine, in combination, a head Casting` fora removable Cover plate forming a housing', a casing secured thereto andprojectingl downwardly at the rear thereof. a second Casing' secured tothe engine and cooperating -With the first named easing, a ean'ishattmounted on the cover plate, and driving means therefor mounted in theCasings.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LIONEL M. IVOOLSQN.

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